Moving on after acrimonious disputes

Long, acrimonious disputes are a challenge, no doubt, but the road forward is not easy even after a conflict has been resolved.

That's the situation facing United Steelworkers (USW) and Crown Holdings with the end of a lengthy 22-month strike. The 130 affected employees — represented by USW Local 9176 — work at the company’s beer can manufacturing plant in Weston, Ont.

Union members went on strike in September 2013 after Crown called for a two-tier wage schedule. According to the union, the plan would have permanently cut young and new workers’ wages by as much as 42 per cent.